‘225 Weekender’: Mardi Gras in the Red Stick

The Krewe of Southdowns rolls Friday in the only Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parade that isn’t downtown. This family-friendly nighttime parade, with “Time Machine” as this year’s theme, will feature bands, crazy floats and tons of throws. The route starts at Pickett Avenue at 7 p.m. and meanders through the neighborhood, ending on Perkins Road at Stanford Avenue. Click here for the complete parade route and more information. And at noon on Saturday, Spanish Town celebrates 32 years of pink parading through downtown with this year’s theme, “A Spanish Town Twinkie Ate My Ding Dong.” Wear something pink and wave to your fellow flamingos as floats, horses, lawnmowers and more roll through Baton Rouge’s oldest neighborhood. Complete Spanish Town parade details are here. And if you haven’t had enough partying, don’t miss the official parade after-party and awards ceremony at Bald Eagle Pub, 140 Main St., with beer trucks, food vendors and only a $5 cover charge. The after-party starts at 4 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m. For more events to make your Mardi Gras weekend merry, check out the new 225 Weekender e-newsletter here.